Ignition system



D. SLVERMAN IGNITioN SYSTEM Original Filed Feb. 14, 19:54

I Re. 22,344

July s, 1943.-

INVENToR Dan/e! Silverman.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATE IGN'ITION SYSTEM Daniel Silverman, Tulsa; Okla., assignor toWestinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company,

Egg: Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Original No. 2,il05,875, June 25, 1935, Serial No. 711,192, 'February 14, 1934. Application for reissue May 23, 1940, Serial No. 336,888

NT OFFICE My invention relates to vapor electric converters and particularly to an ignition system for such devices.

In the application of vapor-electric 'devices employing a make-alive type of excitation it is The apparatus according to my invention comprises a suitable' alternating current system such as an alternating current transformer, I provided with a plurality of phase terminals 2, a direct current system having one side I thereof so.

connected to the alternating current system and a plurality of converters between each phase terminal 2 of the alternating current. system l and one side 4 of the direct current line.

Each of the converters 5 between the common frequently desirable to operate a plurality of ele 5 phase terminal 2 and the alternating current ments in parallel instead oi' constructing a sinline 3 are connected in parallel by means of suitgle special unit for delivering a desired current lable current dividing equipment; such-as anode rating. balance coils 6. In each oi the converters 6 is In the construction ci these devices, it has '10 a suitable make alive electrode I for initiating heretofore been customary to provide a complete a cathode spot at the beginning of each current ignition system for each unit of the converters. carrying half cycle.-

Each of these make alive systems employs a suit- These make alive electrodes 1 are connected able auxiliary discharge Idevice for controlling in parallel by a .suitable conductor 8 and supthe ow oi current to the make alive electrode. 15 plied with current by a suitable auxiliary valve When a plurality oi devices are used in par i0 which is, in turn, supplied either from an allel. all of the make valives lshould be energized auxiliary source il or Ifrom the phase terminal substantially simultaneously. Consequently, it Z to which the valves 1,5 are connected. When is an object of my invention to' provide a make the potential applied tt the anodes of the conalive system by which al1 the make alives are zo verter I .is positive, -the auxiliary valve I0 will energized simultaneously. Since the auxiliary break down to lpermit current ilow to the pardischarge devices. such as glow tubes, are of allel connected make alives 'l which, in turn. crerelatively short life, it follows that the major ate a cathode spot and initiate .the main current portion oi the up-keep cost ot the ignition syscarrying arcs in the converter. This so reduces l tcm Ais in the replacement of these auxiliary g5 the potential applied to ,the auxiliary valve Il tubes. 1 that current ilowto the-make alives is inter- It is a further object of my invention to rerupted. v v duce the number oi these tubes in order to re- In fthe commercial construction of make alive duce the up-keep cost of make alive instailaelectrodes, it is found substantially impossibletions. Y 30 to provide a plurality or electrodes with substan- It is a further object oi' my invention to protially identical characteristics so that the curvide current dividing apparatus for insuring current will divide equally between the various parrent iiow to all of a plurality of parallel con-` allel connected electrodes. In order to obviate nected make -alive electrodes. this diiiiculty, I introduce a current dividing de- It is a further object oi' my invention to pro- 35 vice between the electrodes and a common vide means for substantially stopping the cursource of-electrode current.l y v rent now in the make alive electrode arter it has In the preferred embodiment or my invention. established the arc in the main discharge de- I provide a suitable capacitor i5 in series with vice. each of the make alive electrodes i and when Other objects and advantages o! my invention 40 make alive potential is applied to the electrodes will be apparent from the following detailed de- 1. current starts to iiow in each electrode 'i subscription taken in conjunction with the accomstantially equal to the' charging current taken panying drawing, in which by the several capacitors Il. This current con- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration oi a portinues to nowuntil a cathode spot is established tion of a converter installation embodying my 46 at which time an'arc lwill strike from the elec-- invention; trode holder to the cathode spot. This causes 1 Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a further moda rush of current which rapidly charges the seincation according to my invention. and ries capacitor Il and so substantially interrupts Fig. 3 is a similar view oi' a similar embodicurrent dow to that particular electrode. It one ment of my invention. so of the parallel connected electrodes 1 should tail to create its cathode spot, the current from the excitationsource will Icontinue to iiow to that electrode and also the potential stored in the remaining capacitors Il will be available for creatinga cathode spot'in the late iiringunit. In

'order i0 dischargethe series capacitor I6, I provide a resistor IB in shunt therewith. These re` sistors I6 dissipate the charge of the capacitor I so thatY at each succeeding haii.' cycle, the capacitor i5 will be able to carry current to its associated make alive electrode 1.

In certain applications where the make alive requirements are particularly heavy, it is desirable to provide means for increasing the potential applied to a non-flringunit.

In'the modiiication according to Fig. 2, I have provided in parallel with the series capacitors l5 a suitable balancing transformer 20. the positive potential is applied to the anode circuit, the auxiliary valve Ill allows current to flow to the common connection 8 of the make alive electrodes 1. ductance of the transformer winding 2li, make alive current is carried substantiallyv entirely by the series capacitors I5. As soon as one of the electrodes 1 has initiated a rectifying arc, current will flow through the main balancing reactor '6' of the active unit and set up in itself a back voltage which increases the potential applied to the anode of the non-ming unit.

Closely associated with this mainbalance coil is the transformer winding 2l in the ignition circuit. By transformer action, the current to the active unit sets up a voltage in the coil which is positive with respect to the make alive electrode 1 of the non-firing unit. This increased potential is then effective to force sufiicient current through the make alive electrode 1 to initiate a cathode spot and consequently the main rectifying arc therein. As soon as both of the converter units carry current, the potentials generated in the ignition transformer counter balance each other and the flow of current to the make alive electrode 1 substantially ceases. The series capacitors l5 will then discharge through their respective sections of the ignition .transformer winding 20 so as to be in readiness for initiating a cathode spot on the succeeding half cycle.

In a further modincation of my invention, I use a current balancing reactor 2'5 to apply additional potential to the electrode of a non-nring element. In this modication when the positive potential is applied to the ignition circuit through the auxiliary valve ID, current hows primarily through the series capacitors to the make alive electrodes. However, after ay short interval I of time, current will ow through the parallel sectionsof the balancing reactor so that when the cathode spot has been initiated relatively heavy currents will flow through one half of the bal-- ancing reactor 2i to the electrode` holder and from there to the cathode ofthe active section. By mutual induction, this current produces a relatively high potential. which is applied to the electrode 1 ot the non-tiring section to assist in initiating a cathode spot therein.

While for purposes of illustration, I have shown specific embodiments ci myinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modiiications can be made thereinV withouty departing from the true spirit of my' invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vapor-electricv converter comprising a source of polyphase currents, a load circuit, a plurality of parallel valves betwcenueach phase oi the source and the load circuit, a make-alive electrode associated with each of 'said valves, said electrodes being connected in parallel,.a source of When Because of the relatively high inl excitation current substantially co-phasal with the polyphase source and means responsive to the polarity of the polyphase source for connecting said excitation source to said electrodes and capacitors in series with each of said electrodes for controlling current flow thereto. 2. A vapor-electric conversion system comprising a supply line, a load line, a plurality of` Avalves connected between common terminals on said iines, a balancing reactorfor dividing the load current 'between said. valves, a make-alive electrode in each of said valves. means for apply- `ing starting current to said electrodes, a second balancing reactor for directing current between said electrodes, .said second balancing reactor being associated with said first mentioned reactor so that failure of'one of said valves to pick up impresses a high potential on the make-alive in the inactive valve.

3. A vapor-electric conversion system comprisingl a supply line; a load line, a plurality of lvalves connected between common terminals on said lines,.a balancing reactor for dividing the load current between said valves, a make-alive electrode in each of said valves, means for applying starting current to said electrodes, a second balancing reactor for dividing current between said electrodes. said second balancing reactor being associated with said rst mentioned reactor so that' failure of "one of said valves to pick up impresses a. high potential on the make-alive in the inactive valve and capacitors in series with said electrodes and in parallel with said second 'f reactor.

5. An ignition system for a plurality of parallel connected vapor-electric valves comprising a make-alive electrode in each of said valves, a capacitor in series with each of said electrodes, a common connection to all of said capacitors and means for applying potential to said common connections at the beginning of each current carrying period.

6. An ignition system for a plurality of parallel connected vapor-electric valves comprising a make-alive electrode in each of said valves, a

i capacitor in series with each of said electrodes,

a common lconnection to all of said capacitors and means for applying potential to said common connection at the beginning of each current carrying period and meansV in shunt with said capacitor for dissipating the energy stored therein.

7. An ignition system for a vapor-electric onverter having a plurality of parallel valves comprising an auxiliary electrode for initiating a cathode spot in the valve at the beginning of each conducting interval, a source of potential connected to the parallel valves, a source of potential for said auxiliary electrodes, `anauxll- 4iary valve responsive to the polarity of the potential applied to the valve for controlling current flow to said auxiliary electrodes and a current divider for insuring current flow to each oi said l auxiliary electrodes.

' tion of said reactor.

cathode.' spot in the valves at the beginning oi' "eachl conducting interval, a source o! potential connected to the parallel valves, a valve responsive to the polarity o1 the applied potential for controlling current flow to the auxiliary electrodes and means for dividing the current between the auxiliary electrodes.

9. An electrical conversion system comprising an alternating current system, a direct current system, a plurality of vapor-electric converterdividing current between said make-alive elec-- trodes.

ll. An excitation system for a converter having a plurality of parallel valves comprising a make-alive electrode in each of said valves, an

auxiliary valve for supplying current to al1 of said make-alive electrodes and a split reactor for dividing current between said make-alive electrodes and a capacitor in shunt 12. A vapor electric system comprising a source of potential, a load system, a plurality of valves for simultaneously carrying current between said source and said system, a make-alive electrodel associated with each of said valves. a source of current for said electrodes, means for simultaneously applying potential to said electrodes and nected vin series relation with said control member and said source, means comprising an electric valve ior transmitting a relatively large transient electrical impulse from -said source through said control member and saidcapacitance to render conductive said first mentioned electric valve, and a discharge circuit connected in parallel with said capacitance.

14. In combination, an electric valve comprising at least two principal electrodes and a control member of the immersion-igniter type associated with one of said principal electrodes for rendering said electric valve conductive, means comprising a source 'of current and a seriallyconnected electric valve and a capacitance for tance, and means for rendering said secondmentioned electric valve conductive at a predetermined potential of said alternating current source.

16. In combination, an electric valve comprising at least two principal electrodes and a control member associated with one of said principal electrodes for rendering said electric valve conductive, a source of alternating current for applying an alternating potential between said principal electrodes, and means for energizing said control member comprising an electric circuit including a capacitance connected in parallel with a series-connected inductance and resistance and an electric valve for impressing a relatively high voltage upon said `control memberV through said electric circuit.

17. In combination, an electric valve comprising at least two principal electrodes and a concapacitance connected in parallel with a diswith each sectrol member associated with one of said principal electrodes for rendering said electric valve conductive, a source of alternating current for applying an alternating potential between said principa1 electrodes, means for energizing said control member comprising an electric circuit including a charge circuit and an electric valve for furnishing a relatively large current of short duration through said control member and said capacitance, and means for rendering said secondmentioned electric valve conductive at a predetermined valueof the alternating potentia1 of said alternating current source.

18. In combination, an electric valve comprisin g at least two .principal electrodes, a 'control electrode of the immersion-igniter type associated with `one Aoi said principal electrodes for supplying a relatively large current of short.

duration from said source to said control member j and a discharge circuit connected in parallel with said capacitance.

15. In combination, an electric valve comprisrendering said electric valve conductive, .a load circuit-energized through said electric valve, a source of alternating current for applying an alternating potential between said principal electro'des, and means comprising in series relation an electric valve and a capacitance and a resistance connected in parallel with said capaci- 'tance for transmitting a relatively large current of short duration through said control electrode at a predetermined time in the cycle of said alternating potential.

19.111 combination, an electric valve -including at least two principal electrodes and a control electrode of the lmmersion-igniter 'type` comprising a material having a positive nonlinear volt-ampere characteristic, and an excitation circuit for energizing said control electrode comprising a source of electric current, a` capacitance, means for impressing a relatively large transient voltage on said control electrode through said capacitance from said source to render said electric .valve conductive and a discharge circuit 'connected ln parallel with said capacitance.

20. In combination, an electric valve includtrode comprising a source of electric current,

electrodes for rendering said electric valve conductive, means comprising a source of alternating current, a serially-connected capacitance and an electric valve for transmitting a relatively large transient electrical impulse from said source through said control member, a discharge circuit connected in parallel withV said capacia capacitance, means including an electric valve for impressing a relatively large transient volt-` age on said control electrode through said capacitance from said source to render said :first-mentioned electric valve conductive and a discharge circuit connected in parallel with said capacitance.

having a positive non-,-l

21. In combination, an alternating current supply circuit, a direct current load circuit, and a translating circuit for supplying unidirectional current'to said loadcircuit from saidalternating current circuit comprising an electric valve including at least two principal electrodes and a control electrode of the immersion-igniter type ode, and means responsive to an electrical condition of said discharge device occasioned by the initiation of an arc discharge between said anode and said cathode for effecting deenergization oi said control member during said predetermined interval.

Acomprising a material having a positive nonlinear volt-ampere characteristic, a capacitance, means for impressing a relatively large transient voltage onsaid control electrode through said capacitance to render said electric valve conductive and a discharge circuit connected in parallel with said capacitance.

22. Incombination, an electric valve comprising atleast two principal electrodes and a control member associated with one of said prinv cipal electrodes for rendering said electric valve conductive, a source of alternating current for applying an alternating potential between said principal electrodes, and means for, energizing said control member comprising an electric circuit including an capacitance connected in parallel with an inductance and an electric valve for impressing a relatively high voltage upon said control member through said electricv circuit. s f

23. In combination. an electric discharge device having an anode, a cathode and a controlmember of the immersion-igniter type, an ex#- citation circuit to energize continuously said control member during a predetermined interval of a cycle of-anode-cathode voltage to initiate an varc discharge between said anode and saidcathv 24. In combination, an electric discharge device having an anode, a cathode and a control member of the immersion-igniter type, an excitation circuit tending to energize continuously said control member during a predetermined interval of a cycle of anode-cathode voltage to initiate an arc discharge between said anode and said cathode comprising means for supplying current to said control member, and means 'responsive to a predetermined electrical condition.

of said discharge device incident to the establishment of an arc discharge between said anode and said cathode for rendering said last mentioned means ineiective thereby enacting deenergization of said control memberduring said predetermined interval.

25. A system `for supplying power from a n 

